Turkiye's first floating offshore wind energy modeling study will help unearth wind energy potential in the country's seas through a unique design formulated by academics from the Izmir Institute of Technology (IYTE).
The study examines the unique design model, which is scaled down 1/40 from a standard model, in the Civil Engineering Department Laboratory of the IYTE. The laboratory is home to a wave generator and an open-type wind generator, both of which were designed and manufactured in-house. A TUBITAK 1001 grant for Scientific and Technological Research Projects funded the project to investigate how the design model works under stormy weather conditions and regular and irregular waves.
The study, which kickstarted in 2018, has produced positive results for the design model through computer assessments and is expected to receive a patent at the end of the experiment, the conclusion of which is expected this year.
'We aim to understand the mechanical behavior of floating offshore wind turbines located in deep seas because the economically viable areas for onshore wind turbines are gradually decreasing,' Unver Ozkol, project coordinator and chair of the mechanical engineering department at IYTE, explained.
Ozkol said that some countries, including Europe, Japan and the US, have started to disclose their offshore wind energy potential, whether fixed or floating. This study will allow the country to similarly ascertain this potential when required.
He advised that Turkiye opt for floating plants rather than fixed bottom turbines given the difficulties and costs of anchoring the turbines to the seafloor in depths over 50 meters.
He argued that floating plants are more feasible given the geographical properties of the country’s seas, which are considered too deep one kilometer from shore where fixed wind turbines typically need to be placed to avail of strong winds.
-Turkiye's floating offshore wind potential stands at 57 GW
Berguzar Oztunali Ozbahceci, an associate professor at IYTE's Civil Engineering Department and a project researcher, also echoed the view that floating offshore wind turbines are more economical for Turkiye and the rest of the world, as constructing a fixed bed infrastructure to the seabed for a fixed plant, which is generally suitable only in water depths under 50 meters, is considered much costlier than a floating plant.
The studies show that Turkiye has 70 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind potential, of which 57 GW could come from floating plants and 12 GW from fixed types, according to Ozbahceci.
Ozbahceci said they aim to use their floating platform design as a prototype that can be applied worldwide, with their generator producing waves between four and 12 meters high.
The model is testing the limits of high waves, and the researchers are accordingly adjusting the floating platform to accommodate for various wave and wind patterns.
The research shows that the Aegean Sea is very suitable for floating turbines with its characteristic low waves and high winds.
'The Aegean Sea is a very economically viable option for floating offshore wind energy turbines,' Ozbahceci said.
She urged that Turkiye, as a country surrounded by water on three sides, avail of its offshore wind potential as soon as possible.
By Ebru SengulCevrioglu
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr